In a society where access to creative outlets is limited, filmmaking becomes a transformative tool for expression, connection, and agency. In partnership with Filmlab Palestine, DHIP proudly presents the Next Generation of Palestinian Cinema, a project designed to empower Palestinian youth by providing them with opportunities to explore their identities, tell their own stories, and strengthen community ties. Through this initiative, young Palestinians gain the tools to shape their own narratives, giving voice to their experiences and perspectives. The project combines three unique components – Next Generation program, Waqtona, and the Sunbird Stories Award – each targeting different aspects of youth engagement with film, cultural identity, and self-expression.
The Next Generation Program enhances cinema literacy and creative expression for Palestinian children (ages 6-10) and youth (ages 11-15). Through film screenings, discussions, and hands-on workshops, young participants learn to explore themes in cinema and express their own stories. Key components include:
- Film Screenings and Dialogue: Guided screenings spark critical discussions, helping children connect film themes to their own lives.
- Mentor Training: Local mentors undergo a three-day training on film education, gaining skills to lead film discussions and support youth engagement.
- Filmmaking Workshops: Youth ages 11-15 create short films, using storytelling to explore their personal and community experiences.
- Cinema Club Partnerships: New cinema clubs in youth centers are equipped with essential tools like projectors and iPads, ensuring lasting access to film resources.
Targeting young Palestinians, the Next Generation Program fosters storytelling and critical engagement.
Waqtona is an advertisement-free online platform providing Palestinian children and youth with access to high-quality, educational media content. With a focus on inclusion, Waqtona offers subtitled and dubbed films, along with integrated sign language, making it accessible to all children across Palestine.
To enrich the platform, new films are added quarterly, with at least 15 films available and two major films translated or dubbed for local audiences.
This initiative not only introduces young viewers to diverse cultural perspectives but also brings engaging, educational content to communities nationwide. Waqtona aims to reach at least 15,000 viewers in its first year, fostering learning and cultural appreciation through accessible media.
Sunbird Stories is a premier development and production program aimed at inspiring the creation of imaginative, meaningful films for young audiences across the Arab world. Building on Filmlab Palestine’s commitment to youth cinema, Sunbird Stories nurtures the talents of Arab filmmakers, encouraging them to explore diverse storytelling that resonates with children, teens, and families.
Now in its fourth edition, the program provides Palestinian Sunbird Production Award nominees with hands-on training in narrative development, screenplay writing, and pitching. Selected projects receive guidance to refine their scripts, develop production and distribution plans, and prepare a pitch deck. At the festival’s pitching session, up to six projects will be selected, along with in-kind production and post-production support, providing crucial resources for emerging voices in Arab youth cinema.
Why Filmmaking?
In Palestine, where traditional educational opportunities are often disrupted, filmmaking serves as a unique way for youth to develop resilience, empathy, and critical thinking skills. Learning the art of filmmaking empowers young Palestinians to document their experiences, share their narratives, and foster understanding within and beyond their communities. Through film, they engage in storytelling that is both personal and universal, giving them the power to shape their own narrative in a region where their stories are often told by others.
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Culture and cinema means that you are narrating your story. You are making people see you as a human being, living in this world and loving life.
Hanna AtallahArtistic Director, Filmlab Palestine
About Filmlab Palestine
Filmlab Palestine is a pioneering organization dedicated to the development and promotion of Palestinian cinema. Established with the vision of empowering Palestinian voices, Filmlab creates opportunities for young people to learn about filmmaking, share their stories, and build technical skills in the field. Through its workshops, screenings, and award programs, Filmlab fosters a vibrant film culture that supports individual creativity and strengthens community ties. Working across different regions, Filmlab Palestine connects young filmmakers to their cultural roots, equipping them with the skills to narrate their own stories in ways that resonate locally and internationally.
Next Generation of Palestinian Cinema
Empowering Youth Through Storytelling
I et samfund, hvor adgang til kreative udtryksmuligheder er begrænset, bliver filmkunst et kraftfuldt redskab til at fremme både selvudtryk og social sammenhængskraft. DHIP er stolte af at præsentere Next Generation of Palestinian Cinema i samarbejde med Filmlab Palestine. Et projekt skabt for at styrke palæstinensiske unge ved at give dem mulighed for at udforske deres identiteter, fortælle deres egne historier og styrke deres fællesskaber. Gennem denne indsats får unge palæstinensere de nødvendige værktøjer til at forme deres egne fortællinger og give stemme til deres oplevelser og perspektiver. Projektet består af tre unikke komponenter – Next Generation-programmet, Waqtona og Sunbird Stories-prisen – der hver især beskæftiger sig med forskellige aspekter af unges engagement i film, kulturel identitet og udtryk.
Next Generation Program styrker filmkundskab og kreativt udtryk hos palæstinensiske børn og unge. Gennem filmvisninger, diskussioner og praktiske workshops lærer de unge deltagere at udforske temaer i film og udtrykke deres egne historier. De vigtigste komponenter inkluderer:
- Filmvisninger og Dialog: Guidede visninger sætter gang i kritiske diskussioner, der hjælper børnene med at forbinde filmens temaer med deres eget liv.
- Mentortræning: Lokale mentorer gennemgår et tre-dages træningsforløb inden for filmundervisning, hvor de lærer at facilitere diskussioner og støtte unge i deres engagement.
- Filmværksteder: Unge i alderen 11-15 år skaber kortfilm og bruger fortælling til at udforske deres personlige og sociale oplevelser.
- Filmklub-partnerskaber: Nye filmklubber på ungdomscentre udstyres med nødvendigt udstyr som projektorer og iPads for at sikre varig adgang til filmressourcer.
Målrettet mod unge palæstinensere, fremmer Next Generation Program både historiefortælling og kritisk refleksion.
Waqtona er en reklamefri online platform, der giver palæstinensiske børn og unge adgang til højkvalitets, pædagogisk medieindhold. Med fokus på inklusion tilbyder Waqtona film med undertekster og dubbing, samt integreret tegnsprog, hvilket gør platformen tilgængelig for alle børn i Palæstina.
For at berige platformens indhold tilføjes nye film hvert kvartal, med mindst 15 film tilgængelige og to store film oversat eller dubbet.
Denne indsats introducerer ikke kun unge seere til forskellige kulturelle perspektiver, men bringer også engagerende og lærerigt indhold til lokalsamfund i hele landet. Waqtona sigter mod at nå mindst 15.000 seere i sit første år og fremmer læring og kulturel forståelse gennem tilgængelige medier.
Sunbird Stories er et førsteklasses udviklings- og produktionsprogram, der har til formål at inspirere til skabelsen af fantasifulde og meningsfulde film for unge seere i hele den arabiske verden. Med udgangspunkt i Filmlab Palestine’s engagement i ungdomsfilm fremmer Sunbird Stories de arabiske filmskaberes talent, og opfordrer dem til at udforske alsidig historiefortælling, der taler til børn, teenagere og familier.
Nu i sin fjerde udgave giver programmet nominerede til den palæstinensiske Sunbird Production Award praktisk træning i narrative udvikling, manuskriptskrivning og pitch-forberedelse. Udvalgte projekter får vejledning til at finpudse deres manuskripter, udvikle produktions- og distributionsplaner og udarbejde en pitch-præsentation. Ved festivalens pitch-session vil op til seks projekter blive udvalgt, hvilket giver vigtige ressourcer til de nye stemmer i den arabiske ungdomsfilm.
Hvorfor Filmkunst?
I Palæstina er filmkunst en unik måde for unge at udvikle modstandskraft, empati og kritisk medborgerskab. At lære kunsten at lave film giver unge palæstinensere mulighed for at dokumentere deres oplevelser, dele deres fortællinger og styrke forståelsen både inden for og uden for deres fællesskaber. Gennem film engagerer de sig i historiefortælling, der både er personlig og universel, og giver dem mulighed for at forme deres egne fortællinger i en region, hvor deres historier ofte bliver fortalt af andre.
Link to donation page
Culture and cinema means that you are narrating your story. You are making people see you as a human being, living in this world and loving life.
Hanna AtallahArtistic Director, Filmlab Palestine
Om Filmlab Palestine
Filmlab Palestine er en pionerorganisation dedikeret til udvikling og fremme af palæstinensisk filmkunst. Organisationen blev etableret med visionen om at styrke palæstinensiske stemmer, og Filmlab skaber muligheder for unge til at lære om filmproduktion, dele deres historier og opbygge tekniske færdigheder inden for feltet. Gennem workshops, filmvisninger og prisprogrammer skaber Filmlab en levende filmkultur, der støtter den enkeltes kreativitet og styrker fællesskabets bånd. Med aktiviteter på tværs af regioner forbinder Filmlab Palestine unge filmskabere med deres kulturelle rødder og udstyrer dem med de nødvendige færdigheder til at fortælle deres egne historier på måder, der skaber genklang både lokalt og internationalt.